Most of us are huge fans of the FIFA World Cup. It is one of the largest international sports events in the world, enjoyed by billions of people around the globe. It is welcomed every four years by football fans with immense excitement. However, it is essential to know about the intellectual properties included in the FIFA World Cup tournament and the associated trademark and licenses. This blog will explain everything about FIFA’s intellectual property, trademarks, and patents.
What is FIFA Intellectual Property?
We all know that any asset that is intangible and belongs to a particular business or brand comes under intellectual property. Similarly, FIFA’s most significant IP assets are the World Cup Trophy, its official logo, event mascots, and official emblems. In addition, many brand assets are involved with FIFA, such as symbols, titles, slogans, logos from different countries, and more. Qatar protects the official intellectual properties of FIFA, and the laws are protected here, regardless of whether the trademarks of FIFA are registered in Qatar.
Trademarks associated with FIFA
We all know how important the role of a trademark is in today’s world. Trademark helps a brand increase trust and reliability of the customers. In the FIFA World Cup, different trademarks, such as logos, slogans, designs, etc., significantly increase brand reliability and monetization.
Since FIFA is a sports tournament, jerseys and shoes also appear. Jerseys are the most influential monetary sources that connect fans to their players. They are also great at driving sponsorships for the event.
Though shoes may seem like a product related to trademarks, they also come under patents. One of the most recent examples of a patented shoe used in football is the Adidas Predator Edge. It is specially designed to provide a greater surface area between the shoe and the ball when the player is aiming for lateral kicks.
Patentability of the Ball
The football used in the FIFA tournament is a patented good and follows specific advancements over the years. The standards and advancements made for FIFA are the same in every match globally.
Before 1870, the design and patent of the football were not standardized. During the 1870s, a common shape and size had been fixed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Along with that, several rules have been made by the IFAB and encouraged to follow them globally during FIFA matches. They also manage FIFA intellectual property rights.
Additional Innovative Patents in FIFA
In addition to the patents mentioned above and trademarks, let us look at some more innovative FIFA intellectual property, i.e., the patent that assists in the FIFA World Cup tournaments.
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR): FIFA’s VAR technology patent owner is Hawk-Eye Innovations. The Hawk_eye VAR helps the on-pitch referee to make an accurate decision with the red cards, penalties, etc. An additional referee will watch the tournament at different angles using high-speed cameras and assist the on-pitch referee accordingly. The cameras are fixed at six locations to capture images, and the computers help in accurately analyzing the game in accordance with the game rules.
- Hybrid Turf: Since grass turfs are not safe for players during rainy climates and vibrant tournaments, hybrid turf is used to withstand maximum pressure. It is produced by a patent machine, ensuring the players’ safety throughout the FIFA tournament.
- Magnetic Field System: Over recent years, several advancements in the FIFA tournament have assisted the event in evolving agreeably. One such innovation is the Magnetic Field System. This technology involves placing thin cables behind the goal line in the turf and a sensor in the ball. As soon as the ball comes in contact with the cables, it produces a magnetic field. Because of the magnetic field produced, the computer can track the ball’s location and analyze whether it crossed the goal line. This magnetic field also comes under FIFA intellectual property.
- Electronic Performance and Tracking System (EPTS): One of the patented technologies that help to improve players’ performance is the EPTS. It is a wearable technology that tracks players’ positions and the ball. It also helps to analyze the speed of players, which is very helpful during their training sessions to improve themselves. It also helps to monitor heart rate when used along with electromechanical devices such as gyroscopes and accelerometers.
Concluding…
Since FIFA is one of the most popular sports events, the trademarks and patents associated with it are immense. These trademarks and patents always aim to take the game to the next higher level and attract a huge audience worldwide. However, intellectual property breaches are riskier, and always conduct thorough research before advertising. Hope this article gives you an overview of FIFA Intellectual Property and helps you understand it better.